Ingredient Spotlight: Macadamia Nut Oil

When you think of macadamia nuts, the first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t your skincare routine. After all, this tropical, flavorful nut is usually more closely associated with desserts or Hawaiian cuisine, and there are tons of other oils -- like jojoba oil or squalane -- that usually take center stage in the skincare aisle.

But if you’re notusing macadamia nut oil in your skincare products, you may be missing out. Here’s why.

What Is Macadamia Nut Oil and Why is it Healthy?

First, the basics: what is macadamia oil, how is it extracted, and why is it healthy for your skin?

This yellow-white oil comes directly from pressing macadamia nuts. Like the nuts themselves, macadamia nut oil is rich in:

• Antioxidants like oleic acid, which are shown to protect against oxidative stress, decrease inflammation, and even possibly protect against autoimmune response.
• Vitamin E,another powerful antioxidant that can moisturize and protect the skin.
• Vitamin A,which helps stop collagen breakdown, heal scrapes, and protect the skin against sunburn.
• Niacin,which is converted to niacinamide, a powerful vitamin that can protect your lipid barrier, regulate oil, treat hyperpigmentation, and soothe acne inflammation.
• Potassium,a mineral that can regulate fluid balance and balance the moisture in your skin.

What Skin Benefits Will You See After Applying Macadamia Nut Oil?

With all that in mind, how can applying macadamia nut oil affect your skin?

1. It Can Repair Your Skin’s Natural Barrier

Macadamia nut oil naturally has a ton of fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and phytosterols. When applied topically, these oils help repair the skin’s sebum barrier and prevent trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). Translation? Stronger skin, less acne, less redness, and fewer wrinkles.

2. It Can Balance Oily Skin

Like any non-comedogenic oil, macadamia nut oil can also help balance your own sebum production thanks to its high concentration of natural vitamins and oils. Seems counterintuitive? It’s not!

Here’s how it works: your skin naturally produces oils. Well, if you have oily skin -- or dehydrated skin that’s become oily to overcompensate-- then you’re producing too much. By applying a biomimetic oil topically, you can clue your skin in and let it know, “Hey, you don’t have to produce so much oil any more!” The result? More balanced, even-looking skin.

3. It Can Reduce Redness and Itching

Phytosterols, in particular, are antioxidants that work to build our cellular membranes and stop collagen breakdown in the body. When applied topically, these compounds can decrease redness and even stop allergic response, leading to less red, irritated skin.

4. It Can Prevent Signs of Premature Aging

As we mentioned, macadamia nut oil has high concentrations of palmitoleic fatty acids -- 16%-23%, to be exact. Well, this fatty acid is essential for stopping premature aging, and it decreases in concentration significantly in aging skin. Applying it topically can help stop this from happening, thereby preventing fine lines and wrinkles.

Final Thoughts

Nature is full of wonderful oils -- like camellia oil, jojoba, squalane, and coconut oil -- that can work wonders on the skin. Macadamia nut oil is certainly one more that should be added to the list.

Find it in: Cloud Whip Day Cream, All In Eye Cream, Daydreamer Restorative Moisturizer